Home › A › Acids and Salts

Acids and Salts

Acids and salts of various kinds are employed by the watchmaker and jeweler, but he should never keep them in proximity to his tools or work, or he may have cause to regret it some day. It is advisable to keep them in glass stoppered bottles.

Acetic Acid of commerce varies considerably in concentration and is usually of a very light yellow color. It is very acid in taste and has a pungent odor by which it is easily distinguished.

Alum is sometimes used for removing the stains left by soldering, in lieu of acids, and is also used in removing broken screws from brass plates by immersing the plates in a strong solution of alum and water, the best results being obtained from a boiling solution, which rapidly converts the steel into rust, while it does not attack the brass plate.

Ammonia, or spirits of hartshorn, of commerce is sold usually in the form of a colorless liquid known as aqua ammonia, which is obtained from the ammonical liquor which results from the distillation of coal for the manufacture of gas. Its properties are somewhat similar to those of soda, potash and other alkalies. It will restore the blue color of litmus paper which has been reddened by acid, and acid, and counteracts the strongest acids. Ammonia Phosphate of commerce is a salt produced by the exact saturation of phosphoric acid with ammonia. It is very useful in baths for producing thick platinum deposits.

Ammonium Sulphide of commerce is a liquid produced by saturating ammonia with sulphuretted hydrogen gas. In combination with metals it rapidly forms sulphides and is used on silver for producing the black coating sometimes called oxidation, and is employed for bronzing metals. Aqua Regia is a combination of I part nitric acid and 2 parts hydrochloric acid, and its strength greatly depends upon the degrees of strength of the two ingredients that form it, which vary in commerce considerably. It is the strongest solvent of metals, and the only one that dissolves gold and platinum.

Boric Acid is employed for decomposing the subsalts deposited in cyanide electro-baths, and for increasing the whiteness of silver alloys. Borax of commerce is usually met with in the form of colorless crystals. When heated by means of the blow-pipe these crystals expand and finally run into a kind of glass which dissolves nearly all the metallic oxides, and on this account it is used as a flux in hard soldering. It is also used in assaying with blow-pipe, for destroying the sub-salts of silver formed in electro-plating baths, and for restoring the shade of defective gilding baths. Chromic Acid is generally made by a combination of bichromate of potash and sulphuric acid. It is used to excite galvanic batteries and as an etching agent.

Hydrochloric Acid of commerce, is a mixture of the acid proper and water. The acid proper is gaseous, and is therefore combined with water. It is a by-product in the manufacture of soda.

Hydrofluoric Acid will dissolve nearly all the metals except silver, platinum and lead. It is a dangerous acid to handle unless you are thoroughly acquainted with its nature. It is used for etching on copper, enamel and glass.

Magnesia Calcine is calcined carbonate of magnesia, and is sold in commerce in the form of a white powder.

Nitric Acid, or aqua fortis, may be purchased of various colors and degrees of strength, and it dissolves most of the metals. As it is frequently used in a dilute state, it is well to remember that WATER SHOULD NEVER BE POURED INTO THE ACID, but rather POUR THE ACID IN A SMALL STREAM INTO THE WATER, stirring meantime with a glass rod. As this and other acids heat rapidly, it is well to place the vessel, while mixing, in another vessel filled with water. Oxalic Acid of commerce is sold in the form of white crystals, and is very poisonous.

Potassium Cyanide of commerce is a colorless salt having an odor somewhat similar to prussic acid. It is highly poisonous. Solutions of potassium cyanide will dissolve metallic silver. It is used in electro-plating, and the plating is more or less effective, depending on the power of the solution of the salts to dissolve the cyanides of gold and silver. Potassium Bicarbonate of commerce is a colorless crystal. This salt is soluble in tepid water.

Potassium Bitartrate, or tartar, is a salt produced from the crystals found on the sides of wine casks. When purified it is known as cream of tartar. It is acid, and is slightly soluble in water.

Potassium Hydroxide, or caustic potash of commerce, is sold in the form of small sticks, which must be kept in air-tight bottles. Potassium Nitrate, or saltpetre, is used as a flux, and as it readily yields a portion of its oxygen to other bodies, it is used extensively for oxydizing metals.

Potassium Sulphide is a salt which in commerce is sold in brown masses, and is sometimes called liver of sulphur.

Prussic Acid, or hydrocyanic acid, should be used with the greatest care, as it is one of the most deadly substances used in the art. It may be distinguished by its smell, which resembles that of peach pits, apple seeds or bitter almonds, and, in fact, these substances owe their peculiar odor to the presence, in small quantities, of this acid. It is used for decomposing the alkaline carbonates formed in baths with cyanide of potassium, and for maintaining the strength of the hypophosphite of gold in immersion baths. Sal-Ammoniac, or Chloride of Ammonium, is used as a flux in soldering tin and other metals in the form of a paste obtained by combining with sweet oil. It is also used in battery solutions in electroplating. Sodium Bicarbonate corresponds in properties very closely with potassium bicarbonate.

Sodium Hydroxide of commerce is solid, in thick white masses, and is readily converted into carbonate of soda by the absorption of carbonic acid from the air.

Sodium Pyrophosphate of commerce is sold in the form of a white salt which is soluble in water.

Sodium Phosphate of commerce is usually sold in the form of crystals. It is used in hot electro-gilding baths.

Sulphuric Acid or oil of vitriol is a colorless, odorless fluid. Like nitric acid, it should be carefully mixed when diluting with water, and the same water-bath used.

Tartaric Acid of commerce is usually sold in the form of crystals and also in the form of a powder. Solutions of this acid should only be prepared for immediate use, as it readily decomposes.

ADAMS, J. C. Born in Preble, N. Y., October 7, 1834. As a watch factory organizer he has probably had more experience than any living man. He served a five years' apprenticeship to John H. Atkins, an old Liverpool watchmaker, then located in Elgin, Ill. After serving his apprenticeship he worked for two years as watchmaker for I. E. Spalding, Janesville, Wis. He was afterwards engaged in business in Elgin, the firm being known as G. B. & J. C. Adams. The partnership was dissolved at the end of two years, and he accepted a position in the watch department of Hoard & Hoes, Chicago. In 1861 he had the management of the watch department of W. H. & C. Miller, the largest jewelry store in Chicago. In 1862 he was appointed time-keeper for the various roads centering in Chicago. In 1864, together with Charles S. Moseley and P. S. Bartlett, he organized the Elgin Watch Company. In 1869, together with Paul Cornell, he organized the Cornell Watch Company of Grand Crossing, I11. One of the movements made by this company bore his name. In 1869, together with Springfield capitalists, he organized the Illinois Watch Company. In 1874 he organized the Adams & Perry Manufacturing Company. In 1883 and 1884 he was in the employ of the Independent Watch Company of Fredonia, N. Y. In 1885 he organized the Peoria Watch Company of Peoria, Ill., and remained with that company until April 14, 1888. He is the inventor and patentee of the Adams System of Time Records, now used by nearly every western railroad.